Category Archives: Exhaustion

Burnout is nature’s way of telling you you’ve been going through the motions

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“Burnout is nature’s way of telling you you’ve been going through the motions, but your soul has departed.”

—Sam Keen, late American author, academic and philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Christian Erfurt

Burnout is rarely a lack of effort; more often, it is a lack of presence.

Sam Keen’s line reminds us that exhaustion can be a spiritual alarm bell, not just a physical one. We keep performing, producing, and pleasing long after our inner life has gone quiet.

When the soul leaves the work, the work still gets done, but it no longer nourishes us.

The invitation is simple but brave—pause, listen, and ask what you’ve been ignoring.

Recovery begins when you stop living by habit and start living by truth.

Reconnect with what feels meaningful, and your energy will most likely return with it.

EXERCISE:

The book Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski explains why stress becomes overwhelming when the body never gets the chance to complete the stress cycle.

It blends science and compassion to show how rest, connection, movement, and self-kindness can help people recover their energy and joy in living.

Exhaustion is not a status symbol

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“Exhaustion is not a status symbol.”

—Brené Brown, research professor at the University of Houston

Image of a hand holding a candle burning at both ends

Image from andtodaysidiomis

Do you ever hear yourself or others making statements such as:

  • I work 24/7
  • I work 60, 70, 80 hours per week
  • I only need 4-5 hours of sleep
  • I can’t remember when I took all of my vacation time
  • I usually eat at my desk, and sometimes in my car
  • I bill more hours than anyone else in my firm
  • I’m burning the candle at both ends

Somehow, many of us took the idea of hard work, and got carried away. Some of us have gotten to the point that our self worth and value equates to “giving it my all,” taking it to the point of endangering our very lives.

The evidence that we need to conserve and recharge our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energies before it is too late is overwhelming.

EXERCISE:

Select at least one personal or professional activity that you will do less of or stop entirely, so you can step back from the ledge of exhaustion. See if you can reclaim at least one hour each day, and then consider reducing or eliminating a second activity.

I highly recommend reading The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr if you want to take this concept further.